International Trade Law Summit | HNLU Raipur | 2nd- 4th Oct 2026

International Trade Law Summit | HNLU Raipur | 2nd- 4th Oct 2026

ITL Summit 2026:

The WTO@30: Reimagining Multilateralism in International Trade Law
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
2–4 October 2026 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (IST)

About the Summit:

To mark the 30th Anniversary of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), HNLU Raipur, through its Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law & Technology, in collaboration with the WTO Young Trade Leaders Programme and the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), IIFT, will host a three-day International Trade Law Summit.

The Summit is designed as an outreach initiative to advance global trade awareness, academic engagement, and career pathways for young professionals, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in international trade law.

Context & Rationale:

The WTO has been the cornerstone of multilateral trade for three decades, enabling liberalisation, integration, and rule-based commerce. Despite challenges like:

• Paralysis of the Appellate Body
• Negotiation deadlocks
• Rising unilateralism

…the WTO continues to show resilience.

Key Developments:

• The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies marks a major breakthrough.
• The MPIA (Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement) reflects collective commitment to dispute settlement discipline.

The Summit will critically assess the WTO’s past, interrogate present challenges, and reimagine pathways for a revitalised multilateral trading system.

Pre-Summit Colloquium:

A precursor event was held on 6 February 2026:
Theme: Global Trade Careers, the WTO’s 30-Year Legacy, and Future Pathways
It also marked the launch of the International Network for Trade Advocacy, Development & Research (IN-TADR), aimed at strengthening advocacy, capacity-building, and research in trade law.

Structure of the Summit:

Module I: International Conference

• Paper presentations in technical sessions
• Expert-led thematic panel discussions

Module II: Mock WTO Exercise (First of its Kind in India)

• Student-exclusive simulation of WTO negotiations
• Drafting of negotiated outcomes and resolutions

Conference Theme & Sub-Themes:

Main Theme: The WTO@30: Reimagining Multilateralism in International Trade Law

Indicative Sub-Themes:

1. Digital Trade & the Data-Driven Economy
2. Trade, Sustainability & Climate Action
3. Emerging Goods, Services & Hybrid Trade Forms
4. Power Asymmetries in Global Trade Governance
5. Reforming the Dispute Settlement System
6. Services Liberalisation & the GATS Agenda
7. Investment Facilitation & Trade

Call for Papers:

• Abstracts: Max 500 words | 5 keywords | Bio-note (50 words)
• Full Papers: Max 10,000 words | OSCOLA (4th Ed.) citation | Co-authorship up to 2 authors

Mock WTO Exercise:

Theme: The Intersection between Trade & the Digital Economy

• Open to UG & PG students of law, economics, business & allied disciplines
• Delegates represent WTO Members in provisional committees (e.g., TRIPS Council, Trade in Services, Market Access)
• Mandatory Position Papers

Registration & Fees:

Accommodation:

• INR 1500 per person (entire duration)
• Hostel accommodation (non-AC) | Separate facilities for male & female participants
• Extendable at INR 500/day (subject to availability)

Important Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: 26 April 2026
• Conference Registration Opens: 27 April 2026
• Final Registration Deadline: 20 July 2026
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: 6 September 2026
• Summit Dates: 2–4 October 2026

Contact Information:

Dr. Ankit Awasthi
Head, Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies
📧 itls@hnlu.ac.in

Ms. Kruthika Senthil Kumar
Student Coordinator, WTO@30 Summit
📧 itls@hnlu.ac.in

For More Information:

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